I’ve always thought Günter Grass writes better novels than poems. RememberThe Tin Drum, Grass’s hilarious 1959 novel, with its dwarfish protagonist Oskar Matzerath? Of course, you do. Remember What Must Be Said, the dreary, Israel-bashing prose-poem that he published two months ago? Er, not really.

Grass’s latest poem, the subject of which is Greece’s debt crisis, does nothing to change my view that, at the age of 84, he really ought to stop trying to mix politics and poetry. It’s called Europas Schande, which translates as Europe’s Shame. The title gives the game away, doesn’t it? Read more

As Vladimir Putin settles back into the Kremlin, we focus on his vision for Russia‘s domestic politics and its relationship with China and the west. Charles Clover, Moscow bureau chief, and Neil Buckley, eastern Europe editor, join Gideon Rachman to discuss.

The World

with Gideon Rachman

About this blog

About Gideon

Blog guide

Welcome to the World blog. Gideon Rachman and colleagues offer commentary on international affairs.

Gideon became chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times in July 2006. He joined the FT after a 15-year career at The Economist, which included spells as a foreign correspondent in Brussels, Washington and Bangkok. He also edited The Economist’s business and Asia sections.

His particular interests include American foreign policy, the European Union and globalisation